Lady&#39;s hand bag



0a. 8, 1929. F. PUCEK 1,730,745

LADYS HAND BAG Filed Oct. 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l T-LQZ.

IN VEN TOR.

F. PUCEK LADYS HAND BAG Oct. 8, 1929.

Filed Oct. 21. 1927 2 Sheets-611001 2 INVENTOR. 7 6 76,24 fi0 6 BY' ATTOPatented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FELIX PUGEK, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN FURMAN, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS LADY S HAND BAG Application filed October 21, 1927. Serial No.227,782,

This invention relates to ladies hand bags, and has more particularreference to an improved theft alarm for a receptacle of this kind.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a ladys hand bag witha simple and efficient alarm apparatus by means of which an alarm issounded in the event that the bag is wrested from the carrier or in theevent that the handle of the bag is cut or severed in anticipation ofwresting the bag from the carrier.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an audible alarmassociated with a hand bag and provided with means operativelyassociated with the handle of the hand bag for normally rendering thealarm inactive, but which is operable upon wresting of the bag from thecarrier or upon severing of the handle to render the alarm active.

The invention further contemplates the pro vision of means forpreventing silencing of the alarm until the bag has been unlocked andopened.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference char acters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand bag constructed and equippedwith a theft alarm in accordance with the present invention, the closurej awe of the bag being open to reveal parts of the alarm apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View, partly brokenaway, looking at the inner side of the alarm apparatus carrying jaw ofthe bag, and revealing details of construction of the alarm apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, with theclosure jaws closed; and

Figure 4 is a section on line H of Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates the usual leatheror other flexible body of a hand bag, the upper part of which is adaptedto be closed by means of a pair of hinged jaws 6 and 7, the former ofwhich is equipped with a handle 8 by means of which the bag is carriedin the usual way.

In accordance with the present invention, the aw 6 is of hollow form andopen at one side where it is adapted to be closed by the jaw 7 which isadapted to be swung into the same in snug fitting engagement therewith.Mounted upon the outer or side wall of the jaw 6, by bolting, rivetingor the like is an ordinary buzzer or electrical audible signal or alarm9 adapted to be energized in a manner which will presently becomeapparent.

Also attached to the inner face of the outer or side wall of the jaw 6in spaced relation to the buzzer 9 is a small battery or dry cell 10having the usual resilient terminals 11 and 12, and mounted upon theouter or side wall of the jaw 6 between the buzzer 9 and battery 10 is alaterally extending and inward ly projecting mounting plate 13 thatcarries a slide 14, movable vertically and normally urged in a downwarddirection by means of a helical tension spring 15 which is anchored atone end to the slide 14 and at its other or lower end to a flange or caron the lower part of the supporting plate 13. The plate 13 preferablyhas an elongated slot 16 through which 6X tends a rivet 17 that passesthrough the opposite walls of the slide 1 1 which embrace the plate 13,whereby the slide 14 is movably connected to the latter. Connected withthe terminals 18 and 19 of the buzzer 9 are resilient flexible contactmembers 20 and 21 which have straight free end portions that projectthrough the slide 14 and through the slot 16 of plate 13. The slide 1 1is provided with tubular insulating bushings 22 that extend therethroughand through the slot 16 so as to insulate the contact members 20 and 21from these parts, and is shown clearly in F igure 2 the free projectingend of contact member 20 has constant sliding engagement with the edgeof the battery terminal 11, while the free projecting end of contactmember 20 is movable laterally toward and from the terminal 12 of thebattery 10. It will thus be seen that when the slide 14 is elevated thecontact member 21 will be disengaged from the battery terminal 12 sothat the circuit of the alarm will be broken and the audible alarmdevice 9 rendered inactive.

As shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the handle 8 is offlexible tubularform with its ends anchored in and opening through the top wall of-thecompartment jaw 6, while a flexible endless member 23 extends throughthe'handle 8 and into the jaw 6 where it is adapted to be engagedbeneath a lateral lug upon the slide let for holding the latter elevatedagainst the action of spring 15 and rendering the alarm device inactive;The band 23 is preferably elastic with sufficient strength toeffectively resist the circuit closing tendency of spring 15. However,should the handle 8 be severed, the band 23 will also be severed and itsholding action or tension will be destroyed thereby for immediatelyreleasing the slide 14: and permitting spring 15 to lower the latter,thereby bringing contact member 21 into engagement with battery terminal12 and completing the alarm circuit. The flexible handle 8 is preferablyformed of leather and is of a construction to prevent bending orbuckling thereof, and as shown in Figure 1 the handle is at its limit ofcontraction with the flexible band 23 stretched and in operativeposition. With the handle at its limit of contraction, the contacts aremaintained separated by the flexible band 23 and further yielding of thehandle is impossible. If desired, the band 23 may be also ofcomparatively weak form or nature so that should a violent pull be givenupon the body of the hand bag, the

handle 8 will extend suiiiciently to enable the band 23 to break andthereby release the slide 14 for rendering the alarm active. The band 23may also be initially set or stretched to its tensile limit so that ajerk or sudden pull on the flexible handle 8 would break the band torelease the circuit closer. However, the primary object of the inventionis to employ an elastic band 23 of comparatively material strengthadapted to be released principally by severing of the handle 8, asstated above. A hinged covermember 25 of angular form is preferablyprovided upon the inner side of the jaw 6 for enclosing the majorportion of the inner side of the latter and covering the alarm apparatusso as to render the same inconspicuous and prevent it from rendering thebag unattractive when opened.

The cover 25 preferably has friction hinges so that it will remainclosed but can be manually swung downwardly to open position forfacilitating access to the alarm parts for setting or repairing thesame.

As the alarm mechanism is mounted within the jaw 6, access thereto forrendering the same inoperative can only be had by opening the jaws, andin order to prevent an unauthorized person from so doing, special formof locking means for retaining the jaws 6 and 7 closed. is provided. Asshown clearly in theseveral views, this means consistsof a hollow shaft26 journaled through the top wall of jaw 6 and having a cup-shapedmember 27 fixed upon the upper end portion thereof and contactingthe'upper surface of the top wall of jaw 6. A further cup-shaped keepermember 28 is secured upon the lower or inner end of shaft 26, while ahelical compression spring 29 surrounds the shaft 26 between the topwall of jaw 6 and the bottom of the keeper member 28 so as to yieldinglyhold the cup member 27 downwardly against the top wall of jaw 6.Slidably eX- tending through the shaft 26 is a further shaft 30 whichhas a nut 31 threaded upon its projecting lower end beneath the bottomof the keeper member 28. A cap member or hollow knob 32 is fixed on theupper end of shaft 30 with its depending rim fitting within the rim ofthe Vcup-shaped member 27, and interposed between the knob 32 and thecup member 27 as well as surrounding the shaft 30 wit iin the members 27and 32 is a helical compression spring 33. The cup member 27 has sockets3 in the bottom thereof while the lower edge of the rim of the knob isprovided with dependin teeth 35 adaptedto be registered with and toenter the socket 3 when the knob 32 is turned and depressed against theaction of the spring 33. The cup member 38 is formed with a notch 36 inone side of the rim thereof to permit the passa e of a suitable keeperbook 37 fastened to the inside of the jaw 7, and it will thus be seenthat when the keeper hook passes through the notch or slot 36 and ispositioned inwardly of the rim of the cap member 28, the latter willeffectively hold the jaws closed provided said cup member 28 is turnedto position the notch 36 out of register with the keeper hook 011 thejaw 7. As it is apparent that the spring 35 norn ally disengages orunclutches the knob 32 from the cup member 27, the latter and the cupmember 28 may not be turned for unlocking the jaws unless the knob 32 isdepresses and turned. One not familiar with the construction maycontinue to turn the knob 32 *ithout effecting release of the jaws andopening the bag. Thus, should the hand bag be wrested from the user orcarrier and the alarm thereby rendered active, an audible signal will becontinuously given so as to advise persons in the vicinity that the baghas been stolen, and thereby facilitating apprehension of the thief.When the bag has been recovered and returned to the owner, the jaws maybe readily unlocked and opened so that slide 14 may be raised to renderthe alarm inactive, any suitable means being provided to temporarilyretain the slide 14 elevated until the handle and band can be repaired,in case the latter has been severed.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction andoperation as well as the advantages of the present invention will bereadily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. The combination with a hand bag having hingedclosure jaws, a compartment in one jaw and a handle attached to the compartment jaw, of a theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment andcomprising an audible signal, a source of electric energy, and a circuitcloser including movable and stationary contacts and spring meanstending to move the movable contact to circuit closing position andcircuits connecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy andcontact, and means associated with the handle for normally holding thecircuit closer in circuit-opening position and adapted upon disruptionthereof for releasing said circuit closer.

2. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, acompartment in one jaw and a handle attached to the compartment jaw, ofa theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising anaudible signal, a source of electric energy, and a circuit closerincluding movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending tomove the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuitsconnecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact,resilient means associated with the handle for normally holding thecircuit closer in circuit-opening position and operable upon disruptionthereof for releasing said circuit closer, and a hinged cover formingthe inner side of said compartment jaw for concealing the theft signalmounted therein.

3. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, acompartment in one jaw and a handle attached to the compartment jaw, ofa theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising anaudible signal, a source of electrical energy, a circuit closerincluding movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending tomove the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuitsconnecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact,and an elastic band extending through the handle and said jawcompartment and engageable with the movable contact to hold it raised,and adapted upon disruption thereof to release the movable contact.

4. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, acompartment in one jaw and a handle attached to said compartment jaw, ofa theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising anaudible signal, a source of electrical energy, a circuit closerincluding movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending tomove the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuitsconnecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact,and an elastic band extending through the handle and said jawcompartment and engageable with the movable contact to hold it raised, aslotted mounting plate for the movable contact and tubular insulatingmembers carried by the movable contact and extending therethrough andthrough the slot of the mounting plate, said contact members projectingthrough said insulating members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FELIX PUCEK.

